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(1 10 Model.)

LE ROY S. WHITE.

MEANS FORYTURNING ON AND SHUTTING OPP GAS BY ELECTRICITY. No. 331,221.Patented Nov. 24; 1885.

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N. PETERS. Pholoiilhognphcr. Wahm lm D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE ROY S. WHITE, OF \VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELEC-TRICAL APPLIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MEANS FOR TURNING ON AND SHUTTlNG OFF GAS BY ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,221, dated November24, 1885.

Application filed Juno 3, 1885. Serial No. 167,556. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LE ROY S. \VHITE, of Waterbury, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means for Turning On, Lighting, and Shutting Off Gas byElectricity, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to gas-burners having a closedcase wherein are 1 contained a valve for controlling the flow of gas tothe burner-tip, a magnet or magnets, and an armature actuated thereby toopen the valve, and to close it or allow it to close. and to alsooperate the sparking devices, whereby an electric spark is produced forigniting the gas, and a lock or stop by which the valve is held openuntil such time as the valve and the armature are released from the lookby energizing the said magnet or magnets.

An important object of my invention is to provide in a burner devices ofthe kind above described, so arranged and combined as to produce a verysmall and compact apparatus of such few parts and simple constructionthat it may be made at small cost, and will not be liable to becomeinoperative or get out of working order.

An essential feature of my invention consists in a novel combination oftwo electro magnets and an armature having its metal so disposed withrelation to the poles of the two magnets that when one or other of themagnets operates to lift the armature the armature will in rising alsobe made to revolve or turn slightly in one or other direction, so as tobring it into engagement with or free it from a stop or lock, by whichthe armature will be held raised and the gas-valve open so long as theburner is used, and until it is desired to close the valve andextinguish the gas.

' The invention consists in novel combinations of parts,hereinafterdescribed,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a burnerembodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations,looking fromopposite sides of the internal mech 'anism of the burner without thecase. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of such internal mechanism on theplane of the dotted line a; x,Fig. 5o 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionon the plane of the dotted liney 3/, Fig. 2. Fig.6 is a dia gramillustrating the magnets, a battery, and

a key or switch, and circuits through which the apparatus is operatedand Figs. 7and 8 are detail Views, hereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The case here represented for inclosing the parts of the apparatusconsists of a cylindrical body, A, a base portion, A, screwed orotherwise secured thereinto and threaded to receive a gas-pipe ornipple, B, and a neck or tip-socket, A", wherein is fitted a burner-tip,

a. Within the case is fitted an interior frame, 6 5 here shown ascomposed of a metallic top plate of iron, C, to which are secured threeelectro-magnet coils, D D E, and a bottom plate, C, of brass or othernon-magnetic material, and through which project the fixed cores or barson which the coils are wound, thereby forming the poles (1 cl 0 of themagnets. The two plates C C are here repre sented as having between thema post or column, C of insulating material and in which are insertednuts or plugs c 0 0, connected in circuits, as hereinafter described.

As here represented, the top plate, C, has an upward central boss orprojection,0*,which fits gas-tight in the tip-socket or neck, A and inwhich are side openings, 0 through which the gas may enter the said bossor projection.

A little red lead or other suitable material placed on the boss 0* willmake it a tight fit in the tip-socket A and will, with the screws 8 5 131' hereinafter described, secure the whole internal mechanism in placewithin the case. The boss 0* forms a valve-seat, upon which closes avalve, 11, the stem 1) of which extends downward below the head C, andhas secured 0 to it the armature F, arranged in sufficiently closeproximity to the poles (Z d e to be attached thereby. The armature F maybe screwed upon the rod or stem 1), which may have a lock-nut, I), foraiding in securing the 5 armature and providing for its adjustment onthe rod or stem relatively to the magnet-poles. Vhen the armature F islifted by the attraction of the magnets, it lifts the rod and valve 1)b, and allows gas to flow freely through the boss or projection 0*upward into the tipsocket A and it also actuates the sparking devices asI shall now describe.

Through a tube or sheath, f, inserted into the top of the body A of thecase, extends a rod or wire, 9, which is fixed in the metallic nut orplug 0 and constitutes a fixed contactpiece. The wire or electrode r issurrounded in the tube orsheath by insulating material 1*. In the wallof the tip-socket A is fitted to slide vertically a rod or wire, g, theupper end of which is bent over, so as to lie across the contact-point gand constitute a movable contact, and the lower end of which is benttransversely, so as to project partly across the interior of thetip-socket A A. spring, bearing upon the bent part of the wire or rod9', serves to draw it down and preserve contact between the parts 9 g.\Vhen the armature F and valve Z) are raised, the valve will strikeagainst the bent end of the wire or rod 9 and lift its upper endsuiiiciently to break its contact with the point 9 and produce sparking;but the parts are preferably so adjusted that the Valve will not act onthe wire or rod to break the circuit and produce sparking until itnearly comes to the upper end of its movement. The rods or fixed coresupon which the coils of the magnet D D are wound are rigidly fixed inthe metallic top plate, 0, of iron, and hence the two coils D D form, ineffect, a horseshoe-magnet, the poles d d of which are presented belowthe bottom plate, 0. The rod or fixed core upon which the magnet-coil Eis wound is also fixed in the metallic top plate, C, and this forms, ineffect, and'is connected in circuit so as to form, a second magnet.

The arrangement of the circuit-wires with the magnets, battery, andkey-board or switch will be readily understood from Fig. 6. G designatesthe battery, and H the key-board, having a key or switch, It, which maybe shifted so as to bring it over either of two buttons, t" j. From onepole of the battery G a wire, It, leads to the switch lever or key it.From the button 1 the wire t" leads to a screw, 2', which is to beinserted through the side of the case-bodyA and into the metallic plug0, and from the buttonj a wire, j, leads to a screw, 7", which islikewise inserted through the body A and into the metallic plug or nut0. From the plug or nut c a wire, 71", leads to the magnet-coil D, theopposite end of which is connected by a wire, 1, with the magnetcoil D,from which a wire, i leads to the metallic plug or nut c. As beforestated, the wire or electrode 1, which forms one of the contact-points,is inserted in the plug or nut 0 and when a current is passed to theplug or nut c" it passes through the wire or electrode 57, thencethrough the wire or electrode 9, and downward through the body of theburner and the gas-pipe B to the ground.

In Fig. 6 I have represented the plug 0 as connected by a wire, t, withthe ground I; and this wire 1' represents the circuit from the plug ornut 0', through the electrodes 9 g, and through the body of the burnerand gaspipe to the ground. From the plug or nut c a wire, j, extends tothe magnet'coil E, and the opposite end of this coil is connected by awire, f, with the case, and thence with the ground. The wirej' in Fig. 6represents the circuit from the magnet-coil E through the body of theburner to the ground. The opposite pole of the battery G is connected bya wire, 7c, with the ground.

From Fig. 6 it will be understood that when the switch or key 71 isshifted onto the button i the current will pass through the parts It tz" c i to the magnet-coil D, thence to the magnet-coil D, thence throughthe plug or nut 0 and through the electrodes or contacts 9 g, to thebody of the burner and to the ground. hen the switch-lever 71 is shiftedonto the button 7', the currents will pass through the parts k j j j" cj to the magnet-coil E, and thence through the burner-body and gas-pipet0 the ground.

The armature F is of peculiar construction, in that it has its metal soplaced,or is so formed and arranged relatively to the poles (Z d c, thatthe electro'inagnets, when energized, serve by their attraction not onlyto raise the armature and open the valve Z), but also serve to slightlyrotate thearmature and valve in one direction or the other. As hererepresented, the armature F has a raised portion or upward projection,Z, extending diametrically across itand diagonally between the poles (Zd, so that the raised projection Z will occupy the relation to themagnets represented in Fig. 5.

If the magnet-poles were directly above the center of the raisedprojection Z, they would have no effect to turn the armature; butinasmuch as they are on opposite sides thereof, and are also on oppositesides of the central stem or rod, b, on which the magnet is fixed, theytend to turn the armature as well. as to lift it. This turning movementof the armature, in connection with its rising-and-:thlling movement, Iutilize to lock the armature in its raised position, with the valve Z)open, and to unlock the armature and permit it to fall and close thevalve.

In the present example of my invention the armature has in its side anotch, m, which receives a hook, on, extending downward from the plate0, and if the armature is slightly turned after being raised said hookwill engage a small notch, a*, in the bottom of the armature, as seen inFig. 2, and will hold the armature raised.

Supposing, now, that it is desired to open the valve and ignite the gasissuing from the burner-tip, I shift the switch or key It so as to sendthe current through the magnet-coils D D. The poles (Z d will then haveopposite polarity, and, acting upon the armature F, will, by reason ofthe raised projection Z, thereon raise the armature and turn it in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 5, so as to bring its lower side, or thenotch n, in engagement with the hook n, where the armature will be heldwith the valve b open. The valve 7) in rising will act upon theelectrode or contact-piece g,and by separating it from the fixed contact9 will produce sparking and ignite the gas.

When the gas is to be extinguished, the switch or key is operated so asto send a current through the magnetcoil E, which thereupon attracts thearmature F, lifts it, and also turns it in an opposite direction to thatindicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, so as to free it from the hook andpermit it, when the current ceases,to fall to the position shown in Fig.2 and close the valve. \Vhen the coil E is energized,the magnet-coils DI) will be also energized in a slight degree; but their polepieces cldrwill havethe same opposite polarity, both being north or both south,and they will not interfere materially with the turning of the armatureby the magnet-coil E to unlock it.

The armature F may be constructed in any suitable way, so that itscenter of magnetism will occupy such relation to the poles that theywill in attracting the magnet turn it as well as raise it. As hererepresented, the result is secured by upsetting-or deflecting the metalof the armature F upward, so as to form the projection Z,- but it mightbe secured by thickening the metal of the armature at this point, or byhaving upon its upper surface and adjacent to the poles at dupwardly-projecting studs or portions.

It will be seen that by my construction I enable an automatic electricgas-burner to be so constructed that it may be entirely inclosed withina case of very small size, and which has few and simple parts, and istherefore not liable to get out of order and become inoperative.

The arrangement of the electrode or contactpiece g within a tube orsheath, f, which eX- tends upward from the case of the burner, and inwhich the electrode or contact-piece is insulated, is very desirable, asit brings the point of attachment of the wire with the electrode orcontact-piece g at a considerable distance from the burner, and reducesthe size of and simplifies the devices which are on the exterior of thecase. This arrangement of parts is much more desirable than a clampencircling the tip-socket A close to the burnertip, and having asbestusor other non-conduct ing material placed between it and the tipsocket,as has heretofore been done.

The movable electrode or contact-piece 9 may slide in a hole or boreformed by drilling down into the wall of the neck or tip-socket A or bysimply grooving the interior of the tip-socket; but I prefer to arrangethe parts as here represented, and as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8,whichrepresent, respectively, a vertical sect-ion of the upper part of theapparatus and a horizontal section on the plane of the dotted line 2 2,Fig. 1, both views being upon a larger scale than the other figures. Inthe inner wall of the neck A is formed a groove, 0, which receives theelectrode or contactpiece 9, and a cup-shaped bushing, thimble, orsleeve, p, is inserted tightly into the end of the neck A and thereinsecured by solder, riveting,or otherwise. This bushing or sleeve closesthe open front of the groove 0 and completes the slideway for theelectrode g,thereby keeping it out of contact with the tip a, which isinserted into the cup-shaped bushing or sleeve 12. The bottom of thebushing 12 has an opening of proper size to permit the free passage ofgas upward, and forms a seat or abutmentagainst which the upper end ofthe spring 9' bears.

Instead of having a circular armature, I

might employ an armature consisting of a bar of about the same shape asthe projection Z, the poles of the i'nagnets being arranged in the sameposition relatively thereto that they now occupy relatively to theprojection Z. In that case the notch m should be in the end of the barand the hook 02 arranged to correspond thereto.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling thesupply of gas there to, of an armature connected with the said valve, bythe rising movement of which the valve is opened, a lock or stop forholding the armature up with the valve open, and an electro-magnet abovethe armature, the metal in the armature being disposed, substantially asdescribed, relatively to the pole or poles of the magnet, wherebythearmature will, when attracted, be raised and rotated so as to bringit into engagement with the lock or stop, substantially as hereinspecified.

2. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling thesupply of gas thereto, of an armature connected with the valve andhaving an upwardly-projecting portion, a lock or stop for holding thearmature up with the valve open, and an electro-magnet above thearmature, having its pole or poles at the side of the projecting portionof the armature, whereby the armature, when attracted, will be raisedand rotated into engagement with the lock or stop, substantially asherein described.

3. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling theflow of gas thereto, of an armature connected with the valve and struckup or deflected to form an upward projection on the armature, a lock orstop for holding the armature up with the valve open, and anelectro-magnet having its pole or poles at the side of the projectingportion of the armature, whereby the armature, when attracted, will beraised and rotated into engagement with the lock or stop, substantiallyas herein described.

4. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling theflow of gas thereto, of an armature connected with the valve, a lock orstop for holding the armature up with the valve open, and twoelectro-magnets, the metal of the armature being disposed, substantiallyas described, relatively to the poles of the magnets, whereby thearmature will, when attracted, be raised and rotated in one or otherdirection and into and out of engage ment with the lock or stop,substantially as herein specified.

5. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling theflow of gas thereto, of an armature connected with the valve and havingan upward projection, Z, a lock or stop for holding the armature up andthe valve open, and two electro-magnets having their poles arranged atthe sides of the projection on the armature, as described, whereby theyserve to lift the armature and turn it in one or other direction andinto or out of engagement with the lock or stop, substantially as hereindescribed.

6. The combination, with a gas-burner and a valve for controlling thefiow of gas thereto, of an armature, F, and a rod or stem, 1),connecting it with the valve, the armature having the projection Z uponits face, the two magnetcoils D D, having-their poles cl (1 on oppositesides of the said projection and on opposite sides of the rod or stem1), and the magnet-coil E, having its pole e on the side of theprojection opposite the pole d, and the locking hook or stop a, allsubstantially as herein described.

7. The combination, with a gas-burner and an inclosing-case, of the heador plate 0, arranged in the upper part of the case, and having avalve-seat at its top, the magnet-coils D D E below said head or plate,the-valve b, the armature F, having an upward projection,

-Z, and arranged below the poles d d e of the magnets, with theprojection Z between the poles, as described, the rod 1), connecting thevalve and armature, and the armature lock or hook a, substantially asherein described.

8. The combination, with a gas-burner and case, ofa frame composed ofheads or plates 0 O, and an interposed post, 0", of insulating material,arranged within the case, two electro-magnets between the heads orplates 0 C, and having their poles presented downward,

valve and armature, a hook or lock, it, for the Y armature, metallicplugs or nuts in the post 0 and which are in electric circuit with themagnet-coils, and screws for the attachment of wires, inserted throughthe case and into said plugs or nuts, substantially as herein described.

9. The combination, with a gas-burner and an inclosing-case containingelectromagnetic apparatus, of a movable electrode or contactpiecearranged adjacent to the burner-tip, a fixed electrode or contact-piece,and a tubular sheath projecting upward from the case, through which thefixed electrode or contactpiece extends, and from which it is insulated,substantially as herein described.

10. The combination, with a burnercase having an upwardly-projectiugneck or socket, A and a tip, a, inserted therein, of a fixed electrodeor contact-piece, g, and a sliding electrode or contact-piece, 9,arranged in a guide or slideway external to the tip, but within the neckA substantially as herein de scribed.

11. The combination, with a burner-case having an upwardly-projectingneck, A provided on its interior with a groove or slideway, 0, and atip, a, withinthe neck, of a fixed electrode or contact-piece, g, and amovable electrode or contact-piece, 9, arranged to move in said grooveor slideway, substantially as herein described.

12. The combination, with a burner-case having an upwardly-projectingneck, A provided on its interior with a groove, 0, of a bushing orthimhle, p, fixed within the neck A and closing the groove 0, the tip awithin the bushing or thii'nble p, the fixed electrode or contact-pieceg, and the movable electrode or contact-piece 9, arranged to slide inthe groove,and external to the bushing or thimble 19, substantially asherein described.

LE ROY S. WVHITE.

\Vitnesses:

O. HALL, FREDK. I-IAYNEs.

